The jury reached its verdict Tuesday after hearing from nearly two dozen witnesses called by prosecutors, who centered their case on eyewitness accounts of the April 2, 2025, incident at a track and field event in Frisco, Texas.
One of the most emotional testimonies came from Collin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Elizabeth Ventura, who described the fatal wound. Ventura said the knife had pierced Metcalf’s heart, leaving a large, gaping wound in his chest.
Student witnesses who testified for the prosecution described Anthony as the aggressor, according to court accounts.
The defense also called multiple witnesses, including students and track coach Adam Linwood, who said Anthony had been nominated for the role of team captain. A Dallas-area NBC News affiliate reported that Anthony had near-perfect grades and maintained a 4.0 grade point average.
Anthony was 17 at the time of the killing but was charged as an adult under Texas law.
The civil rights organization Next Generation Action Network, which had advocated for Anthony during the case, noted that no Black jurors served on the panel.
Judge Roach gave the jury the option of considering a manslaughter charge, which would have carried a sentence of up to 20 years, but the jury returned a murder verdict and a 35-year sentence after less than three hours of deliberation.